I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.
Joshua 7:12b

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READ: Joshua 7:1–15

Many of us follow the Five-Second Rule: if a cookie hits the floor and is picked up quickly, it’s still good to eat. What possible harm could come to a cookie in such a short amount of time? A few germs won’t hurt, right? (This thinking isn’t based on science, mind you, but it’s a great way to justify eating an Oreo that fell from your hand!)

Conversely, we may have heard the expression, “All it takes is one bad apple to spoil the whole barrel.” When it comes to spoiled produce, a few germs do hurt. The apostle Paul used similar imagery: “Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough?” (1 Cor. 5:6b). In other words, one bad apple or a few grains of yeast can affect everything around it.

The same is true with people: one troubled but influential teen can lead her peers down a bad path. One disreputable car dealer can ruin the reputation of his entire dealership. And one hypocritical Christian can disillusion countless onlookers about the Christian faith.

After the stunning victory at Jericho, Israel was about to learn that God would not tolerate one bad apple among them: when Joshua sent a mere 3,000 men to conquer the tiny city of Ai, anticipating an easy victory, the Israelite army suffered a rousing defeat. Thirty-six of their men were killed, and the rest were sent running. Joshua was devastated and complained bitterly to God, who immediately called him out: “Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions” (7:11). God had withdrawn his aid from Israel because someone had broken their covenant with Him.

In the communal society of their day, the sins of one person represented a betrayal by the entire nation. God made it clear that whoever had stolen these items must be purged from their midst: “I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction” (7:12b).

There is no Five-Second Rule when it comes to following God. (There is grace, thanks to Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.) But one “bad apple” of sin in our lives spreads and affects those around us.

A STORY OF THEN & NOW

Messy Grace | Jen K. | Willow Wheaton

When I dedicated my life to Jesus as an adult, the transformation was profound. Those of us with “messy” pasts—affairs, divorce, addiction, incarceration—know the weight of shame, so encountering the forgiveness and renewal of Christ was nothing short of miraculous for me. I went from numb and exhausted to alive and restored in my heart, mind, and soul.

At first, the living water Jesus offers felt almost too good to be true. His grace breathed new life into me—limitless, courageous, and full of hope. It was a stark contrast to the broken well I had drawn from for so long.

God didn’t just save me—He began to heal, equip, and transform me. But walking with Jesus came at a cost. Old habits and the opinions of others threatened to pull me back. That’s why surrounding myself with a loving, grace-filled community was (and still is) essential—people who remind me, “Keep going. I’m so proud of you.”

This journey has required pruning—allowing God to purge me of the obvious habits and behaviors, but also the less visible things—mindsets and lies. Sanctification isn’t quick or easy. It’s a lifelong journey that demands courage and perseverance. But God works all things for good—even the stuff we never believed we could be forgiven for.

It has taken years to address some significant, complicated issues from my past (and thankfully, He is still working on me), but I can confirm that Jesus delights in transforming the worst of sinners into examples of grace. God loves turning upside-down lives into right-side-up living.

DID YOU KNOW?

We may not be Israelites in an Old Testament covenant with God, but as followers of Jesus, we’re part of one body: the body of Christ. The apostle Paul uses this metaphor brilliantly in 1 Corinthians 12:12–31. “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it” (12:26). Both our sins and our victories affect our fellow followers of Christ.

A PRAYER

God, help me be quick to identify the parts of my life that are in disobedience with Jesus’ command to love You and love others. Remind me that Christ’s work on the cross defeats every sin—and that You will help me purge sin from my life before it spreads. Amen.

FOR REFLECTION

What is one habit you struggled with as a kid that you finally broke free from? What helped you break that habit?

If you’re comfortable, share one “bad apple” issue you’d like to purge from your life. What next step(s) can you take to be rid of it?